Lynda's Blog

  Road rules! I think they could be used in other areas of our lives. Take for example, keeping to the left (or the right depending on where you live). How much easier life would be if everyone kept to the left when walking at the park! You wouldn’t have someone cut across in front of you as they approach; you wouldn’t have that scooter or bike zooming all over the footpath coming right at you and scaring you half to death. You wouldn’t trip over dog leads or errant toddlers; you wouldn’t get stuck behind someone wandering all over the place making it impossible to pass them. Oh it would be lovely. And what about the supermarket? Yes! I’m one of those people who do not enjoy supermarket shopping so when I get in there I just want to GET IT DONE! I do not browse. I do not wander. I do not amble. I do not saunter. I know what I want and I know where to find it. Is there a speed limit? I probably don’t abide by it. Take evasive measures if you see me approach. Do not risk walking ...

  I have been volunteering weekly at the local Salvation Army, sorting linen and clothes for those who lost theirs in the recent cyclone.   It has provided some interesting thoughts!   As I walked into the room this morning I noticed an unpleasant, musty, old smell due to the room being closed up overnight. As I emptied boxes and found appropriate places for their contents, I wondered what sort of stink my sin produces when I close my heart to God’s commandments. Isaiah 65:5 says ‘yet they say to each other, 'Don't come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!’ These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.’ Jude 1: 22-23 says ‘Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.’ I guess that is where the saying comes from regarding something stinking to high heaven! Well, I have to admit that in spite of e...

  Recently, my 93 year old mother tested positive for COVID and ended up in hospital. She had two falls just prior to her admission, a seizure in the ambulance and was deeply unconscious. The first miracle was that a scan showed no head injury or broken bones. She did however, have pneumonia. We spent over eight hours with her (suitably clothed in protective gear) in the Emergency Department as she received IV fluids, IV antibiotics, IV morphine and IV antiviral drugs before being admitted to a ward at around 2 am the following morning.   We had been told that no visitors were allowed in the COVID ward. My sister and I tagged along anyway. We asked the Registered Nurse who admitted mum, if we would be able to visit. This was the second miracle. “Yes you can come,” she said, “and spend as long as you like with her. Bring your food and drink and you can use the clean room through that door to eat. Also use your mum’s toilet as you won’t be able to wander around the ward.” ...

  When I first retired, I googled ‘what to do in retirement’. I wish I hadn’t. One site suggested skydiving (I don’t think so) and going to a summer camp (really?). The author is young. Other sites mentioned starting a business or getting a part-time job. It took me 50 years to be able to retire so that’s not happening. I did like the suggestion about spending time with the grandchildren even though mine live three hours away – or maybe because they live three hours away. And talk about not working – the pension disappears pretty quickly by the time you pay your bills and buy some groceries (and a few coffees). I thought it might be a good idea to get funeral insurance so the hubby or offspring didn’t have to pay for my funeral. I found a really good deal, but when I reviewed my budget I still couldn’t afford the premium. The expensive car (“but it’s an investment”) is already worth thousands less than it was. The old car is bleeding us dry in repairs, “but I need an old car to...

  Retirement – oh what a lovely word. My dictionary says it means ‘to give up work permanently’. It feels as if I barely started work as a school leaver before I was married, had children, the family had fled the nest and I was looking at ‘giving up work permanently’. I had such plans for retirement. They did not include housework, ironing or grocery shopping but centred more on sleeping in, reading books, watching Netflix and of course, going out with the mates for coffee. So I retired from a full-time job and carried on doing two days a week in another position for the same organisation. I did not ‘give up work permanently’ on the other three days a week, I just swapped one job for another. Now I did all that mundane stuff around the house that I used to pay someone else to do! Add to that the odd health appointment, and taking my dear old mum grocery shopping and to her appointments – I was busier than ever. People kept asking me, “how is retirement?” They looked at me eit...